Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 490: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of staff in each general service and department grade in his Department who have been exempt for a period in excess of six months from attending meetings, dealing with correspondence, dealing with telephone queries, home or foreign travel, using computers or other duties by virtue of a medical certificate; if such long-term exemptions from normal duties are fair to other staff who must pick up the extra work; if they provide the taxpayer with good value for money; if such exemptions or certificates have been reviewed by the chief medical officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29430/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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No staff in my Department are exempt from the duties described by the Deputy by virtue of a medical certificate.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken on the issue of the allegation that a person (details supplied) obtained their position partly on the strength of a document claiming to be a PhD; if he has inquired into allegations that the entity which issued this degree is a degrees-for-sale company and not a legitimate educational institution; if so, the results of such inquiries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29113/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has discussed the quality of the academic qualifications of a person (details supplied) with that person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29122/05]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether it is academic fraud for applicants for positions within his Department which require a PhD to rely on degrees purchased on the basis of life experience or other academically invalid criteria from bodies without academic campuses, qualified faculty members or three year degree programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29114/05]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 505: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the existence of diploma mills claiming to be universities which issue bogus degrees including doctoral degrees on the basis of life experience or other academically invalid criteria; if so, the steps he has taken to ensure that no person claiming a degree from such a bogus university is permitted to rely on such a degree for the purposes of any job application in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29115/05]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 506: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken to inquire into substantial international evidence that an entity (details supplied) is a bogus university which issues degrees lacking any academic validity; the outcome of such inquiries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29116/05]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 507: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken to inquire into evidence that an entity (details supplied) operates from an office address in California and has no academic campus; the outcome of such inquiries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29117/05]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 508: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken to inquire into whether a person (details supplied) claimed to have a PhD from an entity (details supplied) at the time of application for his present post; if he will detail the procedures for advertising the post, and the recruitment and appointment of this person; the publications in which any such advertisement appeared and the terms and qualifications required of candidates; the number of other candidates for the position and the number of those other candidates holding PhD degrees from recognised universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29118/05]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 509: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken to inquire into whether a person (details supplied) submitted a legitimate PhD level thesis for the purpose of acquiring a document describing itself as a PhD from an entity (details supplied); if so, the length measured in number of words of this thesis; the locations in which this thesis is published and the libraries at which it may be consulted; if he has obtained the thesis or will take steps to obtain it; if so, if he will make a copy available to Members and to the public; the outcome of such inquiries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29119/05]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 510: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when his attention was drawn to the fact that the PhD thesis claimed by a person (details supplied) was purchased from an on-line degree sales office without academic legitimacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29120/05]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether a State office (details supplied) may have been damaged by the allegations contained in an article in a newspaper (details supplied) that the PhD thesis claimed by a person (details supplied) was purchased from an on-line degree sales office without academic legitimacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29121/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 493, 494 and 504 to 511, inclusive, together.

The filling of the post in question was undertaken as part of a package of measures in the area of science co-ordination and oversight. In June 2004 the Government approved the putting in place of a Cabinet Sub-committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, STI, an interdepartmental committee for STI and the creation of the post in question — chief science adviser to the Government and the appointment of the current incumbent to it. The individual in question was returning from a position at director general level in the European Commission, having previously worked in a number of senior STI positions in the Irish public service.

The post was filled on the basis of the availability of the individual concerned and his track record in the development of science policy and programmes at national and European level and was not the subject of advertisement or competition. The nature of the position is such that no formal qualifications have been stipulated with the key criterion being a broad background in science, technology and innovation. The individual in question supplied a curriculum vitae prior to appointment detailing his experience and academic background including details of his qualifications and experience at graduate and postgraduate level — BSc, MSc and PhD. Following its publication on 9 October 2005, I am aware of the media report referred to which has raised issues in respect of the individual's PhD and the awarding institution. I have had a discussion with the individual concerned and I am examining the issues further.